Silica Nanoparticles for Improving Efficiency of Virus-Like Particle Based Hepatitis B Vaccine

Abstract

Adherence of hepatitis B virus-like particles (VLP) to silica (SiO2) nanoparticles was explored for immunomodulation purposes. Optical absorbance measurements, transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were employed to study the adherence. The results demonstrated that hepatitis B VLP + SiO2 complexes were formed. Preliminary immunological experiments with vaccination of Balb/c mice with the VLP only and VLP + SiO2 complexes were performed. The vaccination with VLP + SiO2 complexes resulted in increase in antibody production in mice blood. The amount of antibodies produced strongly depended on the concentration of SiO2 nanoparticles. The observed results suggest that SiO2 nanoparticles can be considered as a promising material for improving efficiency of VLP-based vaccines against hepatitis B viral disease.